notes on the genus scytodes (araneae, scytodidae) in ... · curs in the brazilian states of...

312

2001. The Journal of Arachnology 29:312–329

NOTES ON THE GENUS SCYTODES(ARANEAE, SCYTODIDAE)

IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

Antonio D. Brescovit and Cristina A. Rheims: Laboratorio de Artropodes, InstitutoButantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, Butanta, CEP 05503-900, Sao Paulo SP, Brazil

ABSTRACT. In this study we present a redescription of Scytodes championi, S. romitii and S. guttipes.Seven species are newly described: S. panamensis from Panama; S. vaurieorum and S. chiquimula fromGuatemala; S. cogu and S. armata from Costa Rica; S. tegucigalpa and S. zamorano from Honduras.Four of these were described as variations of S. championi in a recent revision of the species of CentralAmerica. New records are presented for S. championi, S. romitii, S. guttipes, S. gertschi and S. cubensis.

Keywords: Araneae, Scytodidae, Scytodes, Neotropical region, systematics

The genus Scytodes Latreille 1804 has beenintensively studied in the Neotropical regionduring the last two decades (Brignoli 1976;Alayon 1977, 1985, 1992; Valerio 1981; Bres-covit & Hofer 1999; Brescovit & Rheims2000; Rheims & Brescovit 2000). The genushas a worldwide distribution with several syn-anthropic species (Brescovit & Rheims 2000).To date, at least 42 species in the Neotropicalregion are considered valid.

During a preliminary study of the BrazilianScytodes, we observed that Scytodes romitii,described by Caporiacco (1947) from Guyana,was very common in the north and northeastof the country. This species, herein rede-scribed, is very similar to S. championi F.O.P.-Cambridge 1899, previously known fromCentral America, differing only slightly in themorphology of the male and female genitalia.The similarity between these species was soaccentuated that it became necessary to recon-sider earlier records, for the State of Amazon-as, of S. cf. championi (see Hofer 1990) andS. championi (see Brescovit & Hofer 1999).

Scytodes championi was originally de-scribed by F.O.P.-Cambridge (1899) for Chi-riqui, Panama, and more recently redescribedby Valerio (1981). Valerio presented a seriesof variations for S. championi together with arevision of the Central American scytodidspecies. He also examined specimens identi-fied as S. guttipes Simon 1893, by Banks

(1929) and considered them identical to S.championi. Nevertheless, he kept the namechampioni for the Central American formsdue to the lack of type examination and gen-eral revisions. Nentwig (1993) followed Val-erio’s identifications and considered Banks’sspecimens as misidentifications.

Based on Valerio’s paper and on the studyof material from Central and north of SouthAmerica we concluded that the S. championisensu Valerio is, in fact, a group of four dif-ferent species, based on morphological differ-ences of male and female genitalia as well ascarapace basic coloration pattern. AlthoughBrignoli (1976, figs. 20–25) argues that S.thoracica (Latreille 1802) and S. strandi Spas-sky 1941 present a high degree of genitalicvariation we do not consider this applicable toS. championi sensu Valerio (1981, figs. 16–18) since we observed a very constant patternof genitalic morphology in all Central Amer-ican species of what we could call the ‘‘cham-pioni’’ group.

In addition, we found that S. championi oc-curs in the Brazilian states of Amazonas, Ro-raima and Para and is sympatric with S. rom-itii at least in the state of Amazonas. Aredescription of S. guttipes is presented, con-firming it as a valid species. Seven new Scy-todes species are described for Central Amer-ica and new records and illustrations arepresented for Scytodes gertschi Valerio 1981and for the male of S. cubensis Alayon 1977.

313BRESCOVIT & RHEIMS—THE GENUS SCYTODES

The material examined belongs to the fol-lowing institutions: AMNH, American Mu-seum of Natural History, New York (N.I. Plat-nick); BMNH, The Natural History Museum,London (J. Beccaloni); CEPLAC, Centro dePesquisas do Cacau, Itabuna, Bahia (P.S. Ter-ra); IBSP, Instituto Butantan, Sao Paulo (A.D.Brescovit); INPA, Instituto Nacional de Pes-quisas da Amazonia, Manaus (C. Magalhaes);MCN, Museu de Ciencias Naturais, FundacaoZoobotanica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Ale-gre (E.H. Buckup); MZS, Museo Zoologicode La Specola, Firenze (S. Whitman); MCTP,Museu de Ciencias e Tecnologia, PontifıciaUniversidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul,Porto Alegre (A.A. Lise); MCZ, Museum ofComparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachu-setts, (L. Leibensperger); MNHN, MuseumNational de Histoire Naturelle, Paris (C. Rol-lard); MNRJ, Museu Nacional do Rio de Ja-neiro, Rio de Janeiro (A.B. Kury); MZSP, Mu-seu de Zoologia da USP, Sao Paulo (E.Cancello); SMNK, Staatliches Museum furNaturkunde Karlsruhe (H. Hofer). Despite ourefforts, it was not possible to obtain Valerio’sscytodid material, deposited in the Museo deZoologia, Universidade de Costa Rica(MZUCR).

Descriptions and terminology follow Bres-covit & Rheims (2000). All measurements arein mm. The female genitalia were submergedin lactic acid to study internal structures. Mi-crographs were obtained with a JEOL (JSM840A) scanning electron microscope from the‘‘Laboratorio de Microscopia Eletronica doDepartamento de Fısica Geral do Instituto deFısica da Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP).’’

Scytodes championi F.O.P.-Cambridge(Figs. 1, 2, 13–17)

Scytodes championi F.O.P.-Cambridge 1899: 51(male lectotype and female paralectotype, heredesignated, from Chiriqui, Panama deposited inBMNH, examined); Roewer 1942: 329; Valerio1981: 87, only figs. 7–9.

Diagnosis.—The males of S. championi re-semble those of S. romitii and S. panamensisby the dorsal groove on the distal area of thepalpal bulb, but differ by the strong mediannarrowing of the bulb and greater depth of thedorsal groove (Figs. 1, 2, 14). The female dif-fers from females of the other species by thewidely separated and almost transversally ori-

ented positioning ridges (Fig. 16) and anteriorpair of subtriangular seminal receptacles sep-arated from the smaller posterior pair (Fig.17).

Male. (MCTP 1828).—Carapace yellowwith double U-shaped dark brown pattern anda pair of internal parallel light brown stripes(Fig. 13). Pedipalps yellow with longitudinaldorsal brown stripe. Labium and endites yel-low with brownish margins. Sternum yellowwith brown margins at base of legs and ex-tending towards center along slight grooves.Legs yellow with three longitudinal brownstripes along ventral face of femora and lon-gitudinal stains along tibiae and metatarsi. Ab-domen cream colored with dorsal scatteredblack spots and pair of transversal posteriorblack bands (Fig. 13). Total length 3.50. Car-apace, 1.75 long, 1.50 wide. Eye diameters:PME 0.12, ALE 0.12, PLE 0.14. Lateral eyeson tubercle. Chelicerae with subapical hyalinekeel. Labium 0.20 long, 0.22 wide. Sternum0.96 long, 0.80 wide. Leg measurements: I -femur 2.63/ patella 0.50/ tibia 3.00/ metatarsus3.50/ tarsus 0.63/ total 10.26/ II - 2.13/ 0.50/2.25/ 2.50/ 0.38/ 7.76/ III - 1.50/ 0.38/ 1.25/1.50/ 0.50/ 5.13/ IV - 2.00/ 0.50/ 2.25/ 2.25/0.50/ 7.50. Palpal femur presenting stridula-tory pick long and slender with rounded andprojected socket. Cymbium with single apicalslender spine (Fig. 14). Bulb 0.38 long. Distalarea ventrally with anterior slightly sclerotizedmembrane (SM) followed by subtriangularpocket. (P; Figs. 2, 14). Abdomen 1.75 long,1.50 wide, rounded, covered with slenderhairs.

Female. (MCTP 1827).—Coloration withsame basic pattern as male. Total length 3.38.Carapace, 2.00 long, 1.75 wide. Eye diame-ters: PME 0.12, ALE 0.14, PLE 0.12. Lateraleyes and chelicerae as in male. Labium 0.16long, 0.22 wide. Sternum 1.12 long, 0.82wide. Leg measurements: I - femur 2.00/ pa-tella 0.50/ tibia 2.13/ metatarsus 2.50/ tarsus0.50/ total 7.63/ II - 1.63/ 0.50/ 1.50/ 2.00/0.50/ 6.13/ III - 1.13/ 0.38/ 1.13/ 1.25/ 0.38/4.14/ IV - 1.75/ 0.50/ 1.75/ 1.75/ 0.50/ 6.25.Epigynal fovea very narrow. Positioning ridgesemicircular (Fig. 16). Internal genitalia withtwo pairs of seminal receptacles, the smallerones globose (Fig. 17). Abdomen 1.38 long,1.25 wide, as in male.

Variation.—Males: Total length 3.00–4.63; carapace 1.63–3.25; femur I 2.38–6.25;

314 THE JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY

Figures 1–6.—1–2. Scytodes championi F.O.P.-Cambridge, male palp, prolateral view; 2. Retrolateralview. 3–6. Scytodes romitii Caporiacco. 3. Male palp, prolateral view; 4. Retrolateral view; 5. Distal area,retrolateral view; 6. Stridulatory pick (P 5 pocket, SM 5 sclerotized membrane).

bulb 0.32–0.50 (n 5 15). Females: Totallength 3.63–5.75; carapace 1.88–2.63; femurI 2.00–5.25 (n 5 20). Coloration pattern andgenitalic morphology constant.

Distribution.—Central America and north-ern South America.

Material examined.—NICARAGUA: Jinote-ga: Masawas (Waspuc River), 1/, 17–30 Septem-

ber 1955, B. Malkin (AMNH); GUATEMALA:Peten: Tucuru, 2?2/, 12–13 July 1947, C. & P.Vaurie (AMNH); Panzos: 14–17 July 1947, C. Vau-rie & P. Vaurie (AMNH); EL SALVADOR: LaLibertad: La Libertad, 1/, October 1959, N.L.H.Krauss (AMNH); BELIZE: Toledo District: 1?, 7April 1974, Goodnight (AMNH); PANAMA: Ca-nal Zone: Barro Colorado Island, 1?, 1 juv., 3 De-cember 1965, R.X. Schick (AMNH); 1/, 2 juvs.,


Figures 7–12.—7–8. Scytodes panamensis new species. 7. Male palp, prolateral view; 8. Distal area,retrolateral view. 9–10. Scytodes tegucigalpa new species. 9. Male palp, distal area (e 5 embolus opening);10. Prolateral view. 11–12. Scytodes armatus new species. 11. Male palp, retrolateral view; 12. Malefemur I, ventral spines.

April 1953, A.M. Nadler (AMNH); 3/, 2 juvs., 20April 1953, A.M. Nadler (AMNH); 1/, 23 May1952, T.C. Schneirla (AMNH); 2/, 1928 (AMNH);1?, 3–20 April 1953, A.M. Nadler (AMNH); Bar-bacoas Islands, 1?, 14 December 1965, R.X.Schick & M. Moody (AMNH); BRAZIL: Rorai-ma: Ilha de Maraca, 1?, 17 July 1987, A.A. Lise(INPA); 1?1/, 18 July 1987, A.A. Lise (INPA);

1/, 19 March 1987, A.A. Lise (INPA); 1?, 29March 1987, A.A. Lise (INPA); 4/, 6 juvs., 31January–14 February 1992, A.A. Lise (MCTP1827); 1?3/, 2 juvs., 31 January–14 February1992, A.A. Lise (MCTP 1828); 1/, 1 juv., 31 Jan-uary–14 February 1992, M. Nascimento (MCTP1966); (Estacao Ecologica de Maraca), 20 March1987, A.A. Lise (MCTP 17623); 1?, 17 March


1987, A.A. Lise (MCN 17621); 1?, 25 July 1987,A.A. Lise (MCN 17622); Amazonas: Manaus (Fa-zenda Esteio), 1?, 15 October 1985, B.C. Klein(MCN 19876); Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira, Matura-ca, 1/, 13 October 1990, A.A. Lise (MCTP 1261);Para: Santarem, Fatima de Urucurituba, 1/, 24January 1994, A.D. Brescovit (MCN 25354); 1?,24 January 1987, A.D. Brescovit (MCN 25030).

Scytodes romitii Caporiacco(Figs. 3–6, 18–25)

Scytodes romitii Caporiacco 1947: 22 (female ho-lotype from Diamont Point, East Demerara Dis-trict, Guyana, 10.V.1936, deposited in MZS 519,examined); 1948: 626, figs. 17, 18; Brignoli1983: 150.

Scytodes cf. championi: Hofer 1990: 175.Scytodes championi: Brescovit & Hofer 1999: 105

(misidentification).

Diagnosis.—The males of S. romitii differfrom the other species, here included, by theretrolateral medially-positioned ventral serrat-ed sclerotized membrane (Figs. 4, 5, SM) andby slightly-narrowed median region in themale palpal bulb (Figs. 3, 4, 19, 20). The fe-males differ by the bulb-like shape of the an-terior pair of seminal receptacles very close tothe posterior pair (Fig. 22).

Male.—(Parque Nacional da Serra do Di-visor, IBSP 12305). Carapace yellow withlight brown spotted pattern as shown in Fig.18. Pedipalps light yellow with brownishstains. Labium and endites cream colored withbrownish margins. Sternum as in S. championibut cream colored. Legs light yellow withscattered brown spots except on tarsi. Abdo-men grayish. Total length 4.50. Carapaceslightly domed, 2.13 long, 1.76 wide. Eye di-ameters: PME 0.18, ALE 0.16, PLE 0.16. Lat-eral eyes and chelicerae as in S. championi.Labium 0.16 long, 0.22 wide. Sternum 0.88long, 1.13 wide. Leg measurements: I - femur10.00/ patella 0.63/ tibia 10.50/ metatarsus15.00/ tarsus 0.88/ total 37.01/ II - 6.50/ 0.63/6.50/ 8.00/ 0.75/ 22.38/ III - 3.63/ 0.63/ 3.38/3.88/ 0.63/ 12.15/ IV - 6.00/ 0.63/ 5.75/ 6.88/0.75/ 20.01. Palpal femur presenting stridula-tory pick long and slender with oval and pro-jected socket (Fig. 6). Cymbium presentingsingle distal slender spine (Fig. 19). Bulb 0.70long. Distal area ventrally with anterior ser-rated membrane followed by small triangularpocket (P; Figs. 4, 5, 20). Abdomen 2.38 long,

1.30 wide, rounded, covered with slenderhairs.

Female.—(Parque Nacional da Serra doDivisor, IBSP 12526). Coloration as in male.Total length 5.13. Carapace slightly domed,2.38 long, 1.88 wide. Eye diameters: PME0.14, ALE 0.14, PLE 0.16. Lateral eyes andchelicerae as in male. Labium 0.32 long, 0.26wide. Sternum 1.20 long, 0.94 wide. Leg mea-surements: I - femur 6.25/ patella 0.63/ tibia7.13/ metatarsus 4.25/ tarsus 0.75/ total 19.01/II - 4.38/ 0.63/ 4.13/ 4.50/ 0.75/ 19.01/ III -2.75/ 0.50/ 2.63/ 2.88/ 0.63/ 9.39/ IV - 4.38/0.63/ 4.25/ 4.88/ 0.75/ 14.89. Epigynal foveanarrow, curved and parallel, widely separated.Positioning ridge semicircular (Fig. 21). Inter-nal genitalia with two pairs of seminal recep-tacles with short ducts. Central pair withstrongly sclerotized ring at base (Fig. 22). Ab-domen 2.88 long, 1.75 wide, as in male.

Variation.—Carapace pattern varies great-ly as shown in Fig. 18, 23–25. Males: Totallength 3.50–4.88; carapace 1.63–2.38; femurI 5.63–11.38; bulb 0.38–0.64 (n 5 10). Fe-males: Total length 3.50–6.00; carapace 1.50–3.63; femur I 4.13–7.00 (n 5 15). Genitalicmorphology constant.

Distribution.—North and northeasternBrazil.

Material examined.—BRAZIL: Acre: ParqueNacional da Serra do Divisor, 1/, 13 November1996, R.S. Vieira (IBSP 9137); 3/, 9 November1996, R.S. Vieira (IBSP 8971); 2/, 5–25 Novem-ber 1996, R.S. Vieira (IBSP 9268); (Tipologia 9,sıtio 10), 1/, 23 March 1997, L. Resende & R.S.Vieira (IBSP 12426); (Anil), 2?, 10 November1996, R.S. Vieira (IBSP 9494); (Tipologia 9, sıtio11), 2/, 25 March 1997, L. Resende & R.S. Vieira(IBSP 12179); (Varzea Gibralta-Pedro), 1?, 20 No-vember 1996, R.S. Vieira (IBSP 9355); (Tipologia7, sıtio 4), 2/, 15 March 1997, L. Resende & R.S.Vieira (IBSP 12379); (Travessa Baixa), 1?1/, 16November 1996, R.S. Vieira (IBSP 9407); (Tabo-cao), 1?1/, 17 November 1996, R.S. Vieira (IBSP9188); (Tipologia 8, sıtio 1), 3?, 10 March 1997,L. Resende & R.S. Vieira (IBSP 12466); (Juazeiro),1/, 23 November 1996, R.S. Vieira (IBSP 9012);(Tipologia 8, sıtio 4), 1?, 14 March 1997, L. Re-sende & R.S. Vieira (IBSP 12305); (Tipologia 7,sıtio 4), 3?2/, 18 March 1997, L. Resende & R.S.Vieira (IBSP 12526); Rio Branco (Reserva Extra-tivista de Humaita), 1?, 12 April 1996, Eq. IBSP/SMNK (IBSP 8748); Amazonas: Manaus (Igapo,Taruma-Mirim), 1/, 5 February 1988, H. Hofer(SMNK 271); 1?, 2 December 1987, H. Hofer


Figures 13–25.—13–17. Scytodes championi F.O.P.-Cambridge. 13. Male body, dorsal view; 14. Malepalp, retrolateral view; 15. Prolateral view; 16. Female epigynum, ventral view; 17. Dorsal view. 18–25.Scytodes romitii Caporiacco. 18. Male carapace, dorsal view; 19. Male palp, prolateral view; 20. Retro-lateral view; 21. Female epigynum, ventral view; 22. Dorsal view. 23–25. Male carapace, dorsal view,variation patterns: 23. Sao Mateus, Espirito Santo; 24. Serra do Teimoso, Jussari, Bahia; 25. Tefe, Ama-zonas. Scale lines 5 0.25 mm.


(SMNK 272); 1 juv., 17 February 1988, H. Hofer(SMNK); 1?, 8 October 1987, H. Hofer (SMNK);1?1/, 2 December 1987, H. Hofer (SMNK); 1?,3 October 1987, H. Hofer (SMNK); 1/, 1 February1983, H. Hofer (SMNK); (Ilha da Marchantaria);19 January 1988, H. Hofer (SMNK 946); (FazendaEsteio ZF3-Km 23), 1?, 25 February 1987, B.C.Klein (INPA); 1/, 7 November 1985, B.C. Klein(INPA); 1?, 5 May 1985, B.C. Klein (INPA); AltoSolimoes, 1/, 1 juv., December 1997, A.A. Lise(MCN 8894); Tefe (Estacao Ecologica do Mami-raua), 1?1/, 9–13 October 1992, S.H. Borges(MCN 22876); Rondonia: Porto Velho, 1/, 15April 1996, Eq. IBSP/SMNK (IBSP 8711); Bahia:2?3/, Ceplac (MNRJ); Camacan (Fazenda Matia-pa), 2/, 2 juvs., 16 October 1978, J.S. Santos (CE-PLAC); 1/, 16 October 1978, J.S. Santos (CE-PLAC); 1/, 16 October 1978, J.S. Santos(CEPLAC); Itamaraju, 1/, Ceplac (MNRJ); (Fa-zenda Nossa Senhora das Neves); 3?2/, 14 Oc-tober 1978, J.S. Santos (CEPLAC); (Fazenda PauBrasil), 1?, 22 December 1969, Ceplac (MNRJ13354); 1?3/, 20 June 1968, Ceplac (MNRJ13388); Jucari 1/, Ceplac (MNRJ); (Fazenda Ari-zona), 1?, 4 March 1971, Ceplac (MNRJ); (Fazen-da Ribeirao do Antonio), 1/, 1 juv., 13 May 1970,Ceplac (MNRJ); (Fazenda Sao Francisco), 1/, 26November 1970, Ceplac (MNRJ); 3/, 27 Novem-ber 1969, Ceplac (MNRJ); 2?, 27 November 1969,Ceplac (MNRJ 13345); 1?, 24 September 1970,Ceplac (MNRJ 13062); 1/, 8–9 April 1998, A.D.Brescovit et al. (IBSP 18576); (Fazenda Bethania),2/, 1 juv., 17 April 1971, Ceplac (MNRJ); Uru-cuca, 1?, 2 juvs., Ceplac (MNRJ 13381); (FazendaSanta Tereza), 1/, 21 October 1970, Ceplac(MNRJ); Jucari, Reserva Natural da Serra do Tei-moso, 1/, April 1998, A.D. Brescovit & R. Bertani(IBSP 18825); Ilheus (Ceplac), 1/, 12 April 1998,A.D. Brescovit et al. (IBSP 18909); Lomanto Junior(Fazenda Mangabeira), 4?, 29 May 1968, Ceplac(MNRJ); Mascote (Fazenda Palestina), 2?, 11 May1968, Ceplac (MNRJ); 7?1/, 11 May 1968, Ce-plac (MNRJ); Porto Seguro (Fazenda Sao Jorge),1/, 28 June 1970, Ceplac (MNRJ); Coaraci (Fa-zenda Boa Esperanca), 1?, 24 March 1971, Ceplac(MNRJ); 1/, 18 September 1970, Ceplac (MNRJ);1/, 3 November 1970, Ceplac (MNRJ); 2/, 17 Oc-tober 1970, Ceplac (MNRJ); 3?3/, 28 January1971, Ceplac (MNRJ); 1/, 16 January 1971, Ce-plac (MNRJ); Mascote (Fazenda Palestina), 10?, 9June 1968, Ceplac (MNRJ); Gandu (Fazenda PedraBranca), 1?, 5 February 1970, Ceplac (MNRJ);Prado (Fazenda Furado), 1?, 26 September 1970,Ceplac (MNRJ); Espırito Santo: Sao Mateus (Re-serva Florestal Vale do Rio Doce), 1/, 5–12 Jan-uary 1998, A.D. Brescovit et al. (IBSP 16955); 1/,5–12 January 1998, A.D. Brescovit et al. (IBSP16758); 1?, 4 juv., 5–12 January 1998, A.D. Bres-

covit et al. (IBSP 21429); 1/, 7 juv., 5–12 January1998, A.D. Brescovit et al. (IBSP 21436).

Scytodes panamensis new species(Figs. 7, 8, 26–30)

Types.—Male holotype from Fort Sher-man, Canal Zone, Panama, 15 August 1939,A.M. Chickering deposited in MCZ. Six maleand 15 female paratypes deposited in MCZand two male and three female paratypes de-posited in IBSP 24029, all with the same dataas holotype.

Etymology.—The specific name refers tothe type locality.

Diagnosis.—The males of S. panamensisdiffer from the other species, here included,by the dorsal rectangular hump on the malepalpal bulb (Figs. 8, 27). The female differsfrom the other species by the transversal pairof oval seminal receptacles (Fig. 30).

Male.—(Portobelo, Canal Zone, Panama).Carapace yellow with U-shaped dark brownpattern as shown in Fig. 26. Pedipalps yellowwith brown longitudinal dorsal stripe and oneor two scattered brown stains. Labium and en-dites yellow. Sternum cream colored withbrown margins at base of legs and along slightgrooves that extend towards center. Legs yel-low with pair of brown longitudinal ventralstripes along femur and single brown longi-tudinal dorsal stripe along tibia and metatar-sus. Abdomen grayish with two or three pos-terior longitudinal black stripes and fewanterior scattered black stains (Fig. 30). Totallength 4.50. Carapace slightly domed, 2.25long, 1.88 wide. Eye diameters: PME 0.14,ALE 0.14, PLE 0.14. Lateral eyes and chelic-erae as in S. championi. Labium 0.24 long,0.28 wide. Sternum 1.24 long, 0.92 wide. Legmeasurements: I - femur 5.13/ patella 0.63/tibia 5.63/ metatarsus 7.38/ tarsus 0.88/ total19.65/ II - 3.63/ 0.63/ 4.00/ 4.38/ 0.75/ 13.39/III - 2.50/ 0.50/ 2.13/ 2.63/ 0.63/ 8.39/ IV -3.63/ 0.63/ 3.38/ 3.75/ 0.75/ 12.14. Palpal fe-mur as in S. championi. Cymbium with singledistal spine (Fig. 27). Bulb 0.56 long, distalarea with ventral spoon-shaped, slightly scler-otized pocket (P, Fig. 27). Abdomen 2.25long, 1.38 wide, rounded, covered with slen-der hairs.

Female.—(Portobelo, Canal Zone, Pana-ma). Coloration as in male. Total length 4.75.Carapace slightly domed, 2.38 long, 2.00wide. Eye diameters: PME 0.14, ALE 0.14,


Figures 26–35.—26–30. Scytodes panamensis new species. 26. Male body, dorsal view; 27. Male palp,retrolateral view; 28. Prolateral view; 29. Female epigynum, ventral view; 30. Dorsal view. 31–35, Scy-todes guttipes Simon. 31. Male body, dorsal view; 32. Male palp, retrolateral view; 33. Prolateral view;34. Female epigynum, ventral view; 35. Dorsal view. Scale lines 5 0.25 mm.

PLE 0.16. Lateral eyes and chelicerae as inmale. Labium 0.30 long, 0.36 wide. Sternum1.32 long, 0.96 wide. Leg measurements: I -femur 3.00/ patella 0.50/ tibia 3.00/ metatarsus

3.75/ tarsus 0.50/ total 10.75/ II - 2.25/ 0.50/2.38/ 2.63/ 0.63/ 8.39/ III - 1.63/ 0.38/ 1.50/1.75/ 0.50/ 5.76/ IV - 2.25/ 0.63/ 2.38/ 2.38/0.50/ 8.14. Epigynal fovea semicircular, wide-


ly separated from each other. Positioning ridgesemicircular (Fig. 29). Internal genitalia pre-senting posterior pair of seminal receptacleswith long ducts (Fig. 30). Abdomen 2.38 long,2.25 wide, as in male.

Variation.—Males: Total length 3.63–5.75;carapace 2.00–2.75; femur I 4.13–6.50; bulb0.48–0.68 (n 5 15.) Females: Total length4.25–5.75; carapace 2.38–2.88; femur I 2.50–3.88 (n 5 20). Some males with a single rowof spines along the ventral face of the tibia I.Genitalic morphology constant.

Distribution.—Canal Zone, Panama.

Material examined.—PANAMA: Canal Zone:Gatun, 1/, 11 juvs., 15 February 1958, A.M.Chickering (MCZ); Fort Sherman, 7?11/, August1939, A.M. Chickering (MCZ); Fort Gulik, 2?,September 1979, H.J. Harlan (AMNH); Portobelo,9?18/, 10 juvs., 12 August 1936, A.M. Chickering(MCZ).

Scytodes guttipes Simon(Figs. 31–35)

Scytodes guttipes Simon 1892: 438, pl. 9, fig. 13(3?, 1/, 5 immature syntypes from Venezuela,with no definite locality, deposited in MNHNAR1223, examined. Lectotype ? and 2?, / and5 immature paralectotypes hereby designated).Roewer, 1942: 329.

Diagnosis.—Scytodes guttipes differs fromthe other species by the presence of a devel-oped dorsal membrane in the distal area of themale palpal bulb (Figs. 32–33) and by theslightly sclerotized projection between the fe-male seminal receptacles (Fig. 35).

Male.—(Lectotype). Carapace yellow withdark pattern as shown in Fig. 31. Labium andendites yellow with brownish margins. Pedi-palps, sternum and legs yellow with blackstains. Abdomen cream colored with fewblack transversal scattered stains. Total length4.50. Carapace, 2.25 long, 1.75 wide. Eye di-ameters: PME 0.10, ALE 0.12, PLE 0.12. Lat-eral eyes and chelicerae as in S. championi.Labium 0.26 long, 0.20 wide. Sternum 1.14long, 0.74 wide. Leg measurements: I - femur6.88/ patella 0.63/ tibia 7.00/ metatarsus 9.00/tarsus 0.75/ total 24.26/ II - 4.50/ 0.50/ 4.50/5.25/ 0.63/ 15.38/ III - 3.00/ 0.50/ 2.50/ 3.38/0.63/ 10.01/ IV - 4.25/ 0.50/ 4.13/ 4.63/ 0.75/14.26. Palpal femur as S. championi. Cym-bium with strong distal spine (Fig. 32). Bulb0.54 long, medially narrowed (Fig. 33). Distal

area with median ventral lance-shaped pocket(P; Fig. 32). Abdomen 2.25 long, 1.75 wide,rounded, covered with slender hairs.

Female.—(Paralectotype). Coloration as inmale. Total length 4.88. Carapace 2.50 long,2.13 wide. Eye diameters PME 0.12, ALE0.12, PLE 0.14. Lateral eyes and chelicerae asin male. Labium 0.32 long, 0.30 wide. Ster-num 1.38 long, 1.00 wide. Leg measurements:I - femur 4.38/ patella 0.63/ tibia 4.25/ meta-tarsus 5.63/ tarsus 0.75/ total 15.64/ II - 3.50/0.50/ 3.13/ 3.88/ 0.63/ 11.64/ III - 2.13/ 0.50/1.75/ 2.38/ 0.50/ 7.26/ IV - 2.75/ 0.50/ 2.50/3.25/ 0.75/ 9.75. Epigynal fovea narrow andsemicircular. Positioning ridge semicircular(Fig. 34). Internal genitalia with two pairs ofoval seminal receptacles (Fig. 35). Abdomen2.38 long, 2.25 wide, as in male.

Variation.—Males: Total length 3.88–4.50; carapace 2.13–2.25; femur I 4.88–6.88(n 5 2).

Distribution.—Venezuela and Trinidad &Tobago.

Other material examined.—TRINIDAD &TOBAGO: Mount St. Benedict (108399490N,618239560W), 1?, 27–30 June 1999, R. Pinto-da-Rocha (MZSP 18880).

Scytodes cogu new species(Figs. 36–40)

Scytodes championi: Valerio 1981: 86–87 (Mis-identification, only figs. 17 and 29).

Types.—Male holotype, 5/ and 5 imma-ture paratypes from San Jose, San Jose Prov-ince, Costa Rica, E. Schmidt, deposited inAMNH; and 2/ paratypes, with the samedata, deposited in IBSP 24026.

Etymology.—Short for ‘‘cogumelo.’’ Bra-zilian word for mushroom, due to the shapeof one pair of seminal receptacles.

Diagnosis.—The male of Scytodes cogu re-sembles S. vaurieorum by the pronouncedgroove with lateral projections in the apex ofthe distal area of the male palpal bulb (Figs.37, 50) but differs by the presence of shortand narrowed median ventral projection andabsence of slightly sclerotized membrane(Fig. 38). The females differ from the otherspecies by the presence of a pair of anteriormushroom-like seminal receptacles and a pairof posterior curved truncated ones (Fig. 40).

Male.—(Holotype). Carapace light brownwith brown pattern as shown on Fig. 36. Ped-


Figures 36–45.—36–40. Scytodes cogu new species. 36. Male body, dorsal view; 37. Male palp, pro-lateral view; 38. Retrolateral view; 39. Female epigynum, ventral view; 40. Dorsal view. 41–45. Scytodesvaurieorum new species. 41. Male carapace, dorsal view; 42. Male palp, prolateral view; 43. Retrolateralview; 44. Female epigynum, ventral view; 45. Dorsal view. Scale lines 5 0.25 mm.

ipalps yellow with dorsal longitudinal stripe.Labium and endites yellow. Sternum yellowwith brown margins at base of legs and alongslight grooves extending towards center. Legsyellow with scattered longitudinal stains. Ab-domen grayish with black pattern of transver-sal stripes with few scattered black spots be-

tween them and lateral black stains (Fig. 36).Total length 4.25. Carapace 2.00 long, 1.63wide. Eye diameters: PME 0.14, ALE 0.14,PLE 0.14. Lateral eyes and chelicerae as in S.championi. Labium 0.18 long, 0.28 wide.Sternum 1.20 long, 0.94 wide. Leg measure-ments: I - femur 3.00/ rest of leg absent/ II -


femur 2.75/ patella 0.63/ tibia 2.88/ metatarsus3.63/ tarsus 0.63/ total 10.52/ III - 1.75/ 0.50/1.63/ 2.00/ 0.63/ 6.51/ IV - 2.63/ 0.63/ absent/absent. Palpal femur as in S. championi. Cym-bium with slender distal spine (Fig. 37). Bulb0.54 long, distal area with dorsal, sclerotizedmembrane (Fig. 37). Abdomen 2.25 long, 1.38wide, rounded, covered with slender hairs.

Female.—(Paratype). Coloration as inmale. Total length 4.38. Carapace 2.13 long,1.75 wide. Eye diameters: PME 0.14, ALE0.12, PLE 0.14. Lateral eyes and chelicerae asin male. Labium 0.20 long, 0.24 wide. Ster-num 1.12 long, 0.92 wide. Leg measurements:I - femur 2.13/ patella 0.50/ tibia 2.38/ meta-tarsus 2.88/ tarsus 0.63/ total 8.52/ II - 1.88/0.50/ 1.88/ 2.00/ 0.50/ 6.76/ III - 1.38/ 0.38/1.13/ 1.13/ 0.50/ 4.52/ IV - 2.00/ 0.50/ 1.75/1.88/ 0.63/ 6.73. Epigynal fovea semicircular,shalow. Positioning ridge semicircular (Fig.39). Abdomen 2.25 long, 2.25 wide, as inmale.

Variation.—Females: Total length 4.25–5.00; carapace 2.13–2.75; femur I 2.13–2.75(n 5 7).

Distribution.—Costa Rica.

Material examined.—COSTA RICA: Threeminutes south Liberia, Guanacaste Province, 1/, 10July 1966, S. Peck (AMNH).

Scytodes vaurieorum new species(Figs. 41–45)

Types.—Male holotype from San JeronimoDepartment, Guatemala, 24–26 July 1947, C.& P. Vaurie; and female paratype from thesame locality, 26–27 July 1947, C. & P. Vauriedeposited in AMNH.

Etymology.—The specific name is a pa-tronym in honor of the collectors of the types.

Diagnosis.—Scytodes vaurieorum differsfrom S. cogu by the presence of a slightlysclerotized membrane located all around thedistal area and by a finger-like dorsal projec-tion (Fig. 43). The female differs from the oth-er species by the presence of a sinuous posi-tioning ridge (Fig. 44) and by a pair of smallseminal receptacles with long ducts (Fig. 45).

Male. (Holotype).—Carapace light brownwith brown pattern as shown on Fig. 41. Ped-ipalps light brown with few ventral spots. La-bium and endites yellow with brownish mar-gins. Sternum yellow with brown margins atbase of legs and along slight groves extendingtowards center. Legs yellowish with many

ventral scattered black spots, except on tarsi.Abdomen grayish. Total length 4.13. Carapaceslightly domed, 2.13 long, 1.88 wide. Eye di-ameters: PME 0.12, ALE 0.10, PLE 0.12. Lat-eral eyes and chelicerae as in S. championi.Labium 0.14 long, 0.24 wide. Sternum 1.18long, 0.88 wide. Leg measurements: I - femur2.63/ patella 0.50/ tibia 3.13/ metatarsus 3.75/tarsus 0.63/ total 10.64/ II - 2.13/ 0.50/ 2.13/2.38/ 0.63/ 5.88/ III - 1.50/ 0.50/ 1.25/ 1.50/0.50/ 5.25/ IV - 2.13/ 0.50/ 2.13/ 2.13/ 0.63/7.52. Palpal femur as in S. championi. Cym-bium with single apical slender spine (Fig.42). Bulb 0.52 long, strongly curved inwardswith distal area presenting prolateral concav-ity (Fig. 42). Abdomen 2.00 long, 1.75 wide,rounded, covered with slender hairs.

Female. (Paratype).—Coloration as inmale. Total length 4.63 Carapace slightlydomed, 2.13 long, 1.88 wide. Eye diameters:PME 0.14, ALE 0.12, PLE 0.12. Lateral eyesand chelicerae as in male. Labium 0.24 long,0.24 wide. Sternum 1.18 long, 0.90 wide. Legmeasurements: I - femur 2.25/ patella 0.50/tibia 2.38/ metatarsus 2.75/ tarsus 0.63/ total8.51/ II - 1.75/ 0.50/ 1.75/ 2.13/ 0.50/ 6.63/III - 1.25/ 0.50/ 1.13/ 1.00/ 0.38/ 4.26/ IV -1.75/ 0.50/ 1.75/ 1.75/ 0.63/ 6.38. Epigynalfovea inconspicuous (Fig.44). Internal geni-talia with pair of seminal receptacles on eachside. Larger globose pair covering ducts ofsmaller pair and with lateral sclerotized area(Fig. 45). Abdomen 2.50 long, 2.25 wide, asin male.

Distribution.—Known only from the typelocality.

Material examined.—Only the types.

Scytodes tegucigalpa new species(Figs. 9, 10, 46–48)

Types.—Male holotype from Tegucigalpa,Francisco Morazan Department, Honduras,November 1959, N.H.L. Krauss, deposited inAMNH. 1? (IBSP 24027) and 1? and 3 im-mature (AMNH) paratypes from same localityas holotype, 14 July 1948, Clark.

Etymology.—The specific name is a nounin apposition taken from the type locality.

Diagnosis.—The male of S. tegucigalpa re-sembles S. chiquimula by the presence of anapical projection on the bulb (Figs. 50, 51) butdiffers by the presence of bifid distal area anddorsal groove (Figs. 10, 47, 48).


Figures 46–53.—46–48. Scytodes tegucigalpa new species. 46. Male carapace, dorsal view; 47. Malepalp, prolateral view; 48. Retrolateral view. 49–53. Scytodes chiquimula new species. 49. Male carapace,dorsal view; 50. Male palp, prolateral view; 51. Retrolateral view; 52. Female epigynum, ventral view;53. Dorsal view. Scale lines 5 0.25 mm.

Male. (Holotype).—Carapace yellow withbrown pattern as shown in Fig. 46. Pedipalpsyellow. Labium and endites yellow. Sternumyellow with brown margins at base of legs andalong slight grooves extending toward center.Legs yellow with pair of ventral longitudinalstripes along femora and few scattered longi-tudinal stains along tibiae. Abdomen grayish.

Total length 4.63. Carapace slightly domed,2.25 long, 1.88 wide. Eye diameters: PME0.12, ALE 0.12, PLE 0.14. Lateral eyes andchelicerae as in S. championi. Labium 0.28long, 0.24 wide. Sternum 1.34 long, 0.98wide. Leg measurements: I - femur 4.25/ pa-tella 0.50/ tibia 5.00/ metatarsus 6.13/ tarsus0.75/ total 16.63/ II - 3.00/ 0.50/ 3.25/ 3.75/


0.75/ 11.25/ III - 2.13/ 0.50/ 1.88/ 2.13/ 0.75/7.39/ IV - 3.00/ 0.63/ 2.88/ 3.13/ 0.75/ 10.39.Palpal femur as in S. championi. Cymbiumwith single slender distal spine (Fig. 47). Bulb0.56 long, distal area with slightly sclerotizeddorsal membrane (Figs. 10, 47) and a shortventral triangular projection (Fig. 48). Abdo-men 2.38 long, 2.00 wide, rounded, coveredwith slender hairs.

Female.—Unknown.Variation.—Males: Total length 4.63–5.00;

carapace 2.25–2.75; femur I 4.25–5.88; bulb0.56–0.64 (n 5 3).



Scytodes chiquimula new species(Figs. 49-53)

Types.—Male holotype, 1/ and 1 imma-ture paratype from Chiquimula (1250 ft.),Chiquimula Department, Guatemala, 21–23July 1947, C. & P. Vaurie, deposited inAMNH, and female paratype, with the samedata as holotype, deposited in IBSP 24028.


Diagnosis.—The male of S. chiquimula dif-fers from S. tegucigalpa by the presence of aretrolateral curved lamina apically projected(Fig. 51) and by a distal triangular laminarprojection (Fig. 50) on the distal area of palpalbulb. The female resembles S. cogu by a pairof anterior mushroom-like seminal receptaclesbut differs by the short ducts and the ellipticalposterior pair (Fig. 53).

Male. (Holotype).—Carapace light brownwith brown pattern as shown on Fig. 49. Ped-ipalps yellow. Labium and endites yellow.Sternum yellow with brown margins at thebase of each leg. Legs yellowish with manyblack small ventral longitudinal stains. Ab-domen grayish. Total length 4.88 Carapaceslightly domed, 2.63 long, 2.00 wide. Eye di-ameters: PME 0.14, ALE 0.14, PLE 0.14. Lat-eral eyes and chelicerae as in S. championi.Labium 0.28 long, 0.30 wide. Sternum 1.40long, 1.00 wide. Leg measurements: I - femur4.00/ patella 0.63/ tibia 4.63/ metatarsus 5.63/tarsus 0.75/ total 15.64/ II - 3.00/ 0.50/ 3.13/3.75/ 0.63/ 11.01/ III - 2.13/ 0.50/ 1.75/ 2.25/0.63/ 7.26/ IV - 3.00/ 0.63/ 3.13/ 2.88/ 0.63/10.27. Palpal femur with stridulatory pick

short and strong with rounded and projectedsocket. Cymbium with single slender apicalspine (Fig. 50). Bulb 0.60 long. Abdomen2.25 long, 1.63 wide, rounded, covered withslender hairs.

Female. (Paratype, AMNH).—Colorationas in male. Total length 3.88. Carapacedomed, 2.38 long, 2.13 wide. Eye diameters:PME 0.12, ALE 0.12, PLE 0.12. Lateral eyesand chelicerae as in male. Labium 0.20 long,0.22 wide. Sternum 1.26 long, 0.88 wide. Legmeasurements: I - femur 3.13/ patella 0.63/tibia 2.88/ metatarsus 4.00/ tarsus 0.75/ total11.39/ II – 2.75/ 0.63/ 2.38/ 2.88/ 0.63/ 9.27/III – 1.88/ 0.63/ 1.50/ 1.88/ 0.63/ 6.52/ IV –2.63/ 0.63/ 2.63/ 2.75/ 0.75/ 9.39. Fovea in-conspicuous. Positioning ridge semicircular(Fig. 52). Abdomen 1.50 long, 1.75 wide, asin male.

Variation.—Females: total length 3.88–5.25; carapace 2.38–2.63; femur I 2.50–3.13(n 5 2).



Scytodes zamorano new species(Figs. 54–56)

Scytodes championi: Valerio 1981: 86 (misidenti-fication, only fig. 18).

Types.—Female holotype and female par-atype from Zamorano, El Paraiso Department,Honduras, September 1953, N.H.L. Kraussdeposited in AMNH.


Diagnosis.—The female of S. zamoranodiffers from the other species herein includedby the sac-like positioning ridge (Figs. 55,56).

Male.—Unknown.Female (paratype).—Carapace yellow with

brown pattern (Fig. 54). Pedipalps yellowwith longitudinal brown stains. Labium andendites yellow. Sternum yellow with brownmargins at base of legs extending towardscenter along slight grooves. Legs yellow withpair of brown longitudinal stripes along ven-tral face of femora and few scattered longi-tudinal stains along tibiae. Abdomen uniform-ly gray. Total length 5.25. Carapace slightlydomed, 2.75 long, 2.00 wide. Eye diameters:PME 0.14, ALE 0.14, PLE 0.14. Lateral eyes


and chelicerae as in S. championi. Labium0.28 long, 0.32 wide. Sternum 1.42 long, 1.08wide. Leg measurements: I - femur 2.88/ pa-tella 0.63/ tibia 3.13/ metatarsus 3.75/ tarsusabsent/ total 10.39/ II – 2.25/ 0.50/ 2.38/ 2.75/0.75/ 8.63/ III – 1.63/ 0.50/ 1.50/ 1.75/ 0.63/6.01/ IV – 2.25/ 0.63/ 2.38/ 2.38/ 0.75/ 8.39.Epigynal fovea very deep (Fig. 55). Internalgenitalia with pair of anterior globose seminalreceptacles and pair of posterior oval seminalreceptacles with slender, strongly curved ducts(Fig. 56). Abdomen 2.50 long, 2.13 wide,rounded, covered with slender hairs.

Variation.—Females: Total length 5.00–5.25; carapace 2.50–2.75; femur I 2.88–3.13(n 5 2).

Distribution.—Known only for the type lo-cality.


Scytodes armata new species(Figs. 11, 12, 57–61)

Scytodes championi: Valerio 1981: 87 (misidenti-fication, only fig. 28).

Types.—Male holotype from La Selva,Puerto Viejo, Heredia, Costa Rica, December1980, W. Eberhard; 1? paratype from samelocality, February 1981, W. Eberhard; 1? par-atype from Cahuita, Limon, Costa Rica, 30March 1979, J. Coddington; and 3/ and 1 im-mature paratypes from Monteverde Commu-nity, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, July 1978, C.L.Kraig & P. Klass, all deposited in MCZ.

Etymology.—The specific name refers tothe strong ventral spines along male legs I andII.

Diagnosis.—The males of Scytodes armataresemble those of S. univittata Simon 1882(see Brescovit & Rheims 2000, fig. 16) by thedouble row of spines along ventral face of thefemur I but differ by a double row of spinesalso along femur II (Fig. 12). It differs fromthe other species, as well as S. univittata bythe presence of a tubular retrolateral projec-tion on the distal area of the male palpal bulb(Fig. 58). The females resemble those of S.gertschi by the pair of anterior, rounded,mushroom-like seminal receptacles but differby straight posterior area of epigynal plate(Fig. 60) and rounded shape of anterior pairof seminal receptacles (Fig. 61).

Male (holotype).—Carapace yellow withbrown pattern (Fig. 57). Pedipalps yellow

with few prolateral brownish stains. Labiumand endites yellow with brownish margins.Sternum yellow with brown margins at baseof legs, extending towards center along slightgrooves. Legs yellow with brown longitudinalstains along ventral face of the femora andvery slightly along tibiae. Abdomen creamcolored with dark brown pattern of posteriormedian transversal stripes (Fig. 57). Totallength 4.38. Carapace slightly domed, 2.38long, 2.00 wide. Eye diameters: PME 0.16,ALE 0.16, PLE 0.16. Lateral eyes and chelic-erae as in S. championi. Labium 0.26 long,0.28 wide. Sternum 1.30 long, 1.00 wide. Legmeasurements: I - femur 5.75/ patella 0.63/tibia 5.63/ metatarsus 8.25/ tarsus 0.88/ total21.14/ II – 4.13/ 0.63/ 3.75/ 5.13/ 0.75/ 14.39/III – 2.50/ 0.63/ 2.25/ 3.00/ 0.63/ 9.01/ IV –3.50/ 0.63/ 3.38/ 4.50/ 0.75/ 12.76. Ventralfaces of femora I-II with double row of spines,prolateral row strong and twice as long as lessdeveloped retrolateral row (Fig. 10). Palpal fe-mur with stridulatory pick as in S. championi.Cymbium with single distal spine (Fig. 58).Bulb 0.50 long. Distal area bifid (Figs. 58,59). Abdomen 2.00 long, 1.63 wide, rounded,covered with slender hairs.

Female (paratype).—Coloration as in male.Total length 6.25. Carapace slightly domed,3.50 long, 2.75 wide. Eye diameters: PME0.16, ALE 0.14, PLE 0.14. Lateral eyes andchelicerae as in male. Labium 0.38 long, 0.32wide. Sternum 1.80 long, 1.30 wide. Leg mea-surements: I - femur 4.00/ patella 0.75/ tibia4.38/ metatarsus 5.75/ tarsus 0.88/ total 15.76/II - 4.75/ 0.75/ 3.25/ 4.13/ 0.88/ 13.76/ III -2.38/ 0.75/ 2.13/ 2.63/ 0.75/ 8.64/ IV - 3.50/0.63/ 3.25/ 3.63/ 0.88/ 11.89. Epigynal foveaconspicuous and deep. Positioning ridge semi-circular (Fig. 60). Internal genitalia with pairof posterior seminal receptacles positionedclose together with lateral sclerotized area(Fig. 61). Abdomen 2.75 long, 2.63 wide asin male.

Variation.—Males: total length 4.38–5.50;carapace 2.38–2.75; femur I 5.75–6.88; bulb0.50–0.54 (n 5 4). Females: Total length6.25–6.75 (n 5 3).

Distribution.—Costa Rica.

Material examined.-COSTA RICA: Puntar-enas Province, Monteverde Community (1480 m),1?, July 1978, C.L. Craig & P. Class (MCZ); He-


Figures 54–61.—54–56. Scytodes zamorano new species. 54. Female carapace, dorsal view; 55. Femaleepigynum, ventral view; 56. Dorsal view. 57–61. Scytodes armata new species. 57. Male body, dorsalview; 58. Male palp retrolateral view; 59. Prolateral view; 60. Female epigynum, ventral view; 61. Dorsalview. Scale lines 5 0.25 mm.

redia, La Selva near Puerto Viejo, 1?, 18 January1979, J. Coddington (MCZ).

Scytodes gertschi Valerio(Figs. 62–66)

Scytodes gertschi Valerio 1981: 86, figs. 6, 15, 27,30 (male holotype and female allotype from Bar-ro Colorado Island, Canal Zone, Panama, June1950, A.M. Chickering deposited in MCZ, not

examined) (examined by Valerio); Platnick 1989:117.

Diagnosis.—The male of S. gertschi differsfrom the other species by the presence of adorsal-ventrally elongated bulb (Fig. 64) anda dorsal triangular projection on the distal areaof the male palpal bulb (Fig. 63). The femalediffers from the other species by the invagi-nated epigynal plate (Fig. 65) and subrectan-


Figures 62–66.—Scytodes gertschi Valerio. 62. Male carapace, dorsal view; 63. Male palp, prolateralview; 64. Retrolateral view; 65. Female epigynum, ventral view; 66. Dorsal view. Scale lines 5 0.25 mm.

gular pair of seminal receptacles (Fig. 66; Val-erio 1981: fig. 15).

Variation.—Males: total length 3.00–3.75;carapace 1.63–1.88; bulb 0.36–0.40 (n 5 2).Females: total length 3.63–4.50; carapace1.75–2.00; femur I: 1.38–1.88 (n 5 7).

Material examined.—PANAMA: Canal Zone:

Barro Colorado Island, 1/, 11 February 1936, W.J.Gertsch (AMNH); Balboa, 2?7/ & 17 juvs., May1964, A.M. Chickering (MCZ).

Scytodes cubensis Alayon(Figs. 67, 68)

Scytodes cubensis Alayon 1977: 2, figs. 1a–c (fe-male holotype from Loma Montecristi, Colorado,


Figures 67–68.—Scytodes cubensis Alayon. 67.Male palp, retrolateral view; 68. Prolateral view.Scale lines 5 0.25 mm.

Limonar, Matanzas, Cuba, March 1976, L.R. Her-nandez; and several male and female paratypes,deposited in Academia de Ciencias de Cuba, notexamined); Brignoli 1983: 149.

Male.—Described by Alayon 1977: 2, figs.1a, b. Cymbium of palp with three slender dis-tal spines (Fig. 67). Bulb long, distal area witha small dorsal membrane on base of long, fi-liform embolus (Figs. 67, 68).

New records.—TRINIDAD & TOBA-GO: Mount St. Benedict (108399490N,618239560W), 1?2/ (possible females, lack-ing abdomen), 27–30 June 1999, R.Pinto-da-Rocha (MZUSP 18860).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We wish to thank the curators for loaningmaterial for this study. Prof. Pedro Kiyoharaand Miss Simone Perche de Toledo (IF/USP)for making the scanning electron micrographs.Martin J. Ramirez and Adalberto J. dos Santosfor helpful comments on the manuscript. Thiswork was supported by CNPq and ‘‘Fundacaode Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Pau-lo’’ (FAPESP No. 99/05446-8; 00/00247-6).

LITERATURE CITED

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Alayon, G. 1985. El genero Scytodes Latreille,1804 (Araneae: Scytodidae), en Jamaica, com ladescripcion de dos nuevas especies. Poeyana293:1–10.

Alayon, G. 1992. Nueva especie de Scytodes y des-cripcion del macho de S. noeli (Araneae: Scy-todidae). Poeyana 413:1–7.

Banks, N. 1929. Spiders from Panama. Bulletinof the Museum of Comparative Zoology 69:53–95.

Brescovit, A.D. & H. Hofer. 1999. Four new spe-cies of litter inhabiting Scytodes spiders (Ara-neae, Scytodidae) from Amazonas. Studies onNeotropical Fauna & Environment, 34:105–113.

Brescovit, A.D. & C.A. Rheims. 2000. On thesynanthropic species of the genus Scytodes La-treille (Scytodidae, Araneae) of Brazil, withsynonymies and records of these species inother Neotropical countries. Bulletin of theBritish Arachnological Society 11(8):320–330.

Brignoli, P.M. 1976. Beitrage zur Kenntnis derScytodidae (Araneae). Revue Suisse de Zoologie83(1):125–191.

Brignoli, P.M. 1983. A Catalogue of The AraneaeDescribed Between 1940 and 1981. Manchester,Manchester Acad., 755 p.

Caporiacco, L. di. 1947. Diagnosi preliminari dispecie nuove di Aracnidi della Guiana Britanni-ca, reccolte dai professori Beccari e Romiti.Monitore Zoologico Italiano 56:20–34.

Caporiacco, L. di. 1948. Arachnida of British Gui-ana collected in 1931 and 1936 by ProfessorsBeccari and Romiti. Proceedings of Zoology ofthe Society of London 118(3):607–747.

Hofer, H. 1990. The spider community (Araneae)of a central Amazonian blackwater inundationforest (igapo). Acta Zoologica Fennica 190:173–179.

Nentwig, W. 1993. Spiders of Panama. Flora &Fauna Handbook no12, The Sandhill Crane Press,Inc., 274 p.

Pickard-Cambridge, F.O. 1899. Arachnida - Ara-neida. Pp. 48–52. In Biologia Centrali-America-na. Godman & Salvin, London, vol. 2.

Platnick, N.I. 1989. Advances in Spider Taxonomy1981–1987. Manchester Univ. Press, Manches-ter., 673 p.

Rheims, C.A. & A.D. Brescovit. 2000. Six newspecies of Scytodes Latreille 1804 (Araneae, Scy-todidae) from Brazil. Zoosystema 22(4):721–731.

Roewer, C.F. 1942. Katalog der Araneae von 1758bis 1940. Bruxellas, vol. 1, Pp. 1–1040.


Simon, E. 1892. Voyage de M. Simon en Vene-zuela, Arachnida. Annales de la Societe. Ento-mologique de France 61:423–462.

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tin of the American Museum of Natural History170:80–89.

Manuscript received 8 May 2000, revised 9 March2001.

notes on the genus scytodes (araneae, scytodidae) in ... · curs in the brazilian states of...

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